I had read in certain places, probably including here, that in a NL tourney you should always raise the same amount no matter what you are holding. If you raise 4XBB with AA, you should raise that with AQs so that opponents can't get a feel for your holding.

But as I go through HoH, it advocates mixing up the size of your raises randomly so your opponents can't get a read on what you have. But if you always raise the same amount, doesn't that accomplish the same thing? I can see raising 80% and limping 20%, but changing the size of the raise I don't like. Mainly because in a tourney where I start with 1,500 chips, I really don't want to occasionally be risking 6XBB with AK if it doesn't work out.

Thoughts?

Good question man...I'm 2 thirds through HoH and I've been wondering the exact same thing...like you I've read elsewhere you should raise the same amount every time...

Personally this is what I do, always 4xBB, no matter what I have. It seems to work okay for me...I think some players (especially at the levels I play - $5-$10 tournies) judge your hand by the size of your raise, and will tend to think a big raise means a big hand, and vice-versa...

But it will be interesting to see what the better players around here think....

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I'm assuming it's a pot that has no limpers..

I raise everything from 2xBB to 4x (though often it's more) depending on context, the size of my stack relative to the blinds and what I did previously.

Generally though it tends to be smaller the earlier the position at a loose table (early in tournament) so I can get away from a reraise if necessary or induce a reraise with AA or KK.

In mid-late position I tend to raise slightly more on average in order to make the blinds define their hands with a call.

In Sit and Gos I have a pretty rigid betting pattern preflop with certain hands for the first 5 levels, but in MTTs I make a real effor to mix it up.



In a pot with one more limpers..

I'll only min raise if I absolutely want a call.

I'll raise 3x or more if I'd like a call but will be happy with the pot.


Like most things it totally depends on context.

Not that I'm one of the better players (yet!) ...

But I usually raise exactly 4xBB if I'm raising at all. This is partly to be unreadable (like you're thinking above) and partly because I'm lazy. When the big blind is a quarter, it's just easier to type "one" and click Raise than it is to type "zero" "point" "seven" "five" and click Raise.

Or "one" "point" "two" "five". You get the picture.

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I adjust the size of my raises as a means to control the number of players in a pot. I mix up my play more by my post-flop play, changing up my bets, checks, and raises so that players cannot get an easy handle on how I play made hands, draws, and busts, etc.

I would say that yes, I am asking what you would raise if you are opening the betting.

Certainly, if I am in LP with 4 limpers and have AA, I'm trying to get them out of the way.

I raise depending on what people are calling or folding to.

If I'm stealing blinds and the BB has been folding to any raise I raise 2-2.5X the blind, why risk more?

If I'm raising 4x the blinds and noone is calling I lower my raises.

I don't change my raises based on hands like Harrington seems to suggest, I change them based on game variables.

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I like this answer the best. I wish my game was good enough to get this right with high frequency.

Me to!

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You should play catch the fist for this response Mr. SuperMod! :good: